Tackling Snow the Zoom zoom Way in Our Long Term 2008 Mazda CX 9

When Angelinos want to see that white stuff called snow, we have to head to points north and east. My destination for a recent family ski vacation getaway: Brian Head, Utah, a small resort town in the Dixie National Forest a few miles east of Cedar City as the crow flies. The weather forecast called for highs in the high teens, lows in Siberia, and copious amounts of snow. To tackle conditions like that I was going to need something a bit more capable than my sportbike dating to the first Bush administration.

In this case, the vehicle I was able to secure was our workhorse Mazda CX-9 long-termer, which has almost as much annual mileage on it as Truck Trend Web Producer Melissa Spiering's long-suffering MINI Cooper (her place is literally halfway to Vegas -- yes, really). I didn't need all three rows of seating but I did need the cargo space to carry a week's worth of supplies for four people, and we ended up filling it to the headliner in the process. Fortunately, the skis would be making their way onto the roof rack of another vehicle -- otherwise there would have been some serious logistical issues. The CX-9's heated seats, fresh rubber, and all-wheel drive were nice to have -- especially where we were going.

As the forecast predicted, it was snowing, uh, the snow equivalent of cats and dogs. Wolves and mountain lions, maybe? Regardless, road conditions were such that if we'd been in California, the road would have surely been shut down and the CHP would be out in full force ensuring that every two-wheel-drive vehicle was wearing chains and crawling down the freeway. Fortunately, the folks in Utah are far more sensible when it comes to snow and the roads were wide open. At times, the snow was coming down hard enough that the road would be covered in snow again just minutes after being plowed.Despite all this, the CX-9 was as surefooted as a mountain goat. Tire slippage? Drifting? Traction control going berserk? Only on our friend's front-drive CR-V and its chain-wrapped balding rubber (tip: if you're going to vacation in the mountains and need new tires, get them before the trip). The CX-9's ABS didn't have to do much, but then again, I wasn't trying to stop in a hurry at any point either. Sudden deceleration plus extremely hazardous conditions will put you into a snowbank in a hurry -- much like the Lincoln Navigator we saw being pulled out of its predicament by some sort of Hummer Recovery Vehicle. As nimble as it is for a big SUV, the CX-9 is not the best vehicle to use to get in touch with your inner Sebastien Loeb.

Bottom line, the CX-9 proved a great winter ride during the trip, and was more than a match for the conditions we encountered. In fact, we bet the CX-9 could tackle all but the absolute worst weather that would challenge even a properly prepared Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. And in those conditions, you'd be better off sitting inside wrapped in a warm blanket with a good book and a bottle of top shelf single malt scotch, anyway. Now if only we could order some all-seasons for our long-term STI. I want to find out if I can crash less than Petter Solberg...Photography by Julia LaPalme

My wife has been driving her Mazda CX7 for 2 years now, while I'm not thrilled with the 2.3L turbo engine, the handling is amazing. I don't have any complaints about the engine, however turbo engines need special attention and more expensive fuel. The AWD CX7 for Canada is really recommended, not that we get a lot of snow in this area, but its always nice to have.

Reality check time. The CX-9 with 20 inch tires can NOT have chains installed. Similarly, there are few tire options in the 20 inch size, therefore the AWD is really somewhat disappointing. I couldn't even get it out of my driveway during a recent snowstorm here in Portland. My Audi Q7 on the otherhand performed flawlessly.

Sorry but Im 17, there is a couple feet of snow on our driveway, schools closed, and I really dont want to go to work at the Warren Theatres right now because I dont want to get in a wreck or get stuck.

who or what is is "vtec"? I can't find it in any of the postings. The only one I find irritating is VW, which only means that the name was changed to make it look like he was trying to be someone else! Hey msp3 YOUR RIGHT!! HAHA!

have to agree with the other posters. vtec: get a life, move out of home, and get "some". seriously, move on because your hatred towards mazdas only mean that your were "owned" by many of them. A pittance that you must spend days out of your life constantly responding to everyone's (including the automotive press who are by far much more knowledgeable about cars and TRUTHFUL)overall terrific experience with driving Mazdas. Sad, but only shows what kind of life you have.

I rather not drive out in the blizzard, that would be idiotic. Is that what youve been doing msp3? Besides when theres bad weather I really do enjoy driving my TL. Hey msp3 would you want a last-gen TL Type S or a last-gen gray-mobile Mazdaspeed6 if you had to choose between the two? BTW msp3 Sunday I did see one of you Mazda drivers that had hit a pole out driving like an idiot, it was a mid-90s 626 for ya.

People should chose what they want to drive a car or a truck?Manufacturers keep trying to put everything in one vehicle to please consumers. You end up with somthingthat dosen't do a good job at being a car or a truck. www.productiontoolco.com

wow vtec, you spent two days responding to this post. You must enjoy driving your acura (yawn)! We Mazda drivers actually enjoy driving our cars and kickin the crap out of your overrated honda (yes, acura is honda). I bet you'll change your alias to make it day 3 tomorrow. in either case, enjoy responding, because us mazda drivers have better things to do.

Hye Viccus, I dont have a 1989 Honda Civic, for that matter I dont even own a car with a Honda nameplate, I own a 2001 Acura TL 3.2, I rather I say I own an Acura than I own a Honda, just like Infiniti and Lexus owners dont like saying they have a Nissan or Toyota.

If you have to climb steep grades in slippery weather, AWD is hard to beat. The CX-9 does everything very well. VTEC 2.0, take your 89 Civic and go down to the Mazda dealer and drive one before you comment. Ignorance might be your bliss, but its jarring to us.

Have you seen TG Jeremy Clarksons review of that Jag X-Type wagon with AWD, the review was in in pretty hazardous conditions and yah he passed plenty of cars, one car that he passed was a FWD van that couldnt even get up a small incline. BTW Only an idiot would drive a Ferrari or Corvette on Ice, for good obvious reasons, but you can do that with an AWD Lambo. RWD>FWD>AWD in hazardous driving conditions. My dad had an 06 Civic and it struggled to get up our icy driveway, and his 2WD 03 Axiom which is parked outside had the same problem getting off and onto the driveway when it was icy, but since then my dad bought a SH-AWD RL and it has zero-tire slippage in the ice. My FWD 01 TL does just fine in the rough stuff too except for icy inclines.

Forester, Honda Pilot, ML class, GL class, X3, X5, RDX, MDX all outclass the CX-9, all of these are at the base price of the CX-9 or cost a little bit more. According to C&D the CX-9 sucks off-road and all of the SUVs I mentioned besides the RDX will kill the CX-9 in hazardous conditions or off-orad.

I woudl like for someone to tell me a SUV that is better then the CX-9? If you drive one, you will understand. I love ignorant people that think that they know how a car or truck drives. The Cx-9 outclasses every SUV/Crossover in its class and SUV's in higher classes!

Wow some serious haters reading this one. and VTEC 2.0 wtf is your logic with your comment? It's not even ON snow, its in the backround, so how is it exactly struggling? Can you hear the grunt of the engine or slippage of the tires? Its a nice sporty suv that Mazda has done will with, and won SUV of the year for. Where's your trophy?

Why all the hate for AWD? Some people have more need for the extra traction AND 8 inches of ground clearance than the extra hp. And wagons do not have 3 rows of seating...making this more than just a tall wagon. I get 2 feet of snow at a time where I am and my front wheel drive sedan does not cut it on about 10 separate occasions throughout winter.So yea if you only get 6 inches of snow anything will get you through.